☕Keurig Alta Brewer Pulls Real Espresso at 10 Bars From Seaweed Pucks

Your countertop espresso machine just got a lot smarter

Keurig's Alta brewer is trying to kill the idea that pod machines make weak coffee. It pushes up to 10 bars of pressure, which is real espresso territory, and it throws in a touchscreen that picks drinks based on the puck you drop in. Why should you care? If you're the person in your office who keeps buying pods and quietly resenting them, this is a different category of machine. It handles flat white, latte, cappuccino, cortado, and Americano, and the steam wand adjusts itself based on the milk you use. It also does cold foam. Setup takes under seven minutes including Wi-Fi, so it won't sit in a box for a month. The numbers: the machine measures 10.8 by 11.8 by 19.0 inches and weighs 22 pounds, so it needs real counter space. The new AltaRounds come in four varieties (dark roast, medium roast, caramel blend, and double-shot espresso) and use a seaweed-derived substance to bloom inside the chamber. Used pucks drop into a two-compartment waste bin that you can compost or toss. The catch? There's a learning curve, and at least one AltaRound reportedly burst open inside its compartment. Watch for whether that's an isolated defect or a pattern before you commit.